Written questions by Cartlidge.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure Future programme.

The Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure Future (SWIF) programme will deliver substantial infrastructure upgrades at HM Naval Base Devonport, as part of a wider significant investment programme to restore capacity and resilience to support the maintenance of our submarine fleet. The design phase of the SWIF programme is coming to a close and we are now starting the construction stage. This comes on the back of the restoration of 9 Dock to undertake submarine deep maintenance and 15 Dock to enable operational maintenance.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Spearcap 3 Programme.

The SPEAR Cap 3 programme remains in the Demonstration and Manufacture phase. The first SPEAR 3 Guided Firing took place missile from a BAE Systems-operated Typhoon in October 2024 at a test range in Sweden. Plans for the subsequent Guided Firing trials are on track with scheduled dates in summer 2025 at the same Swedish range. Hardware has been delivered by MBDA to Lockheed Martin in the US to support F-35B integration activity including on aircraft flights planned for summer 2025.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Submersible Ship Nuclear AUKUS programme.

The SSN-AUKUS programme is approximately 18 months into the Detailed Design and Long Lead (D2L2) phase, with contracts totalling around £4 billion having been placed in October 2023. Infrastructure improvements are also being made at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow and Rolls-Royce’s Raynesway site to support future submarine build programme requirements. The programme aims to deliver the first UK submarines in the late 2030s, to replace the Astute Class.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Sea Venom Programme.

The first successful guided firing of Sea Venom took place at the Aberporth range in Wales in October 2024, marking a significant milestone in the integration of Sea Venom onto Wildcat. Initial Operating Capability is on schedule to be declared by June, aligned to the Carrier Strike Group 25 deployment, with Full Operating Capability expected by 2029.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Spearfish Upgrade Programme.

The Ministry of Defence has made significant progress in implementing the Spearfish Upgrade Programme, focusing on enhancing the capabilities of the Spearfish torpedo system to meet evolving defence requirements. The integration of the Spearfish Mod 1 torpedo with the submarine's combat system has been demonstrated through in-water firings.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Submarine Dismantling Project.

The Submarine Dismantling Project remains on track for the demonstrator submarine, SWIFTSURE, to be fully dismantled by the end of 2026.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed Security Pact with the European Union on UK operational independence.

The Government has been clear about our commitment to negotiate an ambitious Security and Defence Partnership with the EU to strengthen European security and reinforce NATO. Talks are ongoing, and no agreements have been reached. I hope the hon. Member will understand that we will not provide a running commentary on their substance.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42281 on Defence Equipment: Technology, what percentage of his Department's equipment procurement budget was spent on novel technology (a) as of 22 April 2025 and (b) in each of the last five financial years.

The Ministry of Defence continues to invest significant funding into novel technologies such as various uncrewed systems and our cutting edge Directed Energy Weapons. Further detail on the novel technologies ringfence will be finalised through the Spending Review.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential provision of military support in relation to waste collection in Birmingham.

Following a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request from the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government, a small number of military personnel deployed to support Birmingham City Council. This support, which was focused on operational planning only has now concluded.

Whether any military personnel have been deployed to Birmingham to support the response to the ongoing disruption to waste collection.

Following a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request from the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government, a small number of military personnel deployed to support Birmingham City Council. This support, which was focused on operational planning only has now concluded.

What progress he has made on the proposed Security Pact with the European Union.

The Government has been clear about our commitment to negotiate an ambitious Security and Defence Partnership with the EU to strengthen European security and reinforce NATO. Talks are ongoing, and no agreements have been reached. I hope the hon. Member will understand that we will not provide a running commentary on their substance.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed Security Pact with the European Union on the UK procurement system.

The Government has been clear about our commitment to negotiate an ambitious Security and Defence Partnership with the EU to strengthen European security and reinforce NATO. Talks are ongoing, and no agreements have been reached. I hope the hon. Member will understand that we will not provide a running commentary on their substance.

What the remuneration package is for (a) the Chair and (b) all other members of the Defence Housing Strategy review team.

In line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, Natalie Elphicke-Ross has been appointed as the Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy review team. Natalie will bring with her a wealth of technical and industry expertise to get the most out of on this once in a generational opportunity to recapitalise our Defence Estate. This is a paid position, at a rate of £600 per day. The daily rates being paid to other members of the Defence Housing Strategy Review Team varies. The average payment for external members appointed as contractors, not direct Ministerial appointments, is less than £600 per day.

What is his target date for the completion of HMS Trent's maintenance period.

There has been no delay to HMS TRENT's refit. She started a capability refit in October 2024, which completed in December 2024. This was followed by a Capability Insertion Period, which is now complete. HMS Trent is currently undergoing planned force generation and machinery trials alongside in Malta, before proceeding to sea in mid-May.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43215 on Armed Forces: Recruitment, what his Department's targets are for applications for (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force in the 2025-26 financial year.

The current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration. We have made a series of announcements to improve recruitment since July 2024. The Army’s target for applications for all streams (Regular soldier, Regular Officer, Army Reserve soldier and Officer) for Recruiting Year 2025-26 is 198,000 (rounded). Whilst neither the Royal Navy nor Royal Air Force set formal targets for volume of applications, both closely monitor other recruitment metrics including attendance at the various suitability assessments and performance against intake targets. In addition, the RAF has a KPI for achieving a target for Expressions of Interest, set for their marketing contractors. This data is used to hold each Service to account and to forecast progress using known assessment pass rates and overall conversion rate.

How many personnel are currently held at readiness for UK resilience tasks.

As of the 23 April 2025, Defence holds c. 1,600 personnel at readiness for operations designed to support UK resilience. The tasks they are attributed to are wide ranging, from support in the instance of flooding (provided by the UK Standby Battalions) to the provision of fuel tanker drivers in the instance of a national shortage (Op ESCALIN). Of these 1,600 personnel, 900 are held at extremely high readiness within the UK Standby Battalions for domestic resilience tasks. This responsibility rotates through units and, as of 23 April 2025, is held by personnel from across the Army including the infantry, cavalry, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. We take resilience tasks to mean operations designed to provide assistance to the civil authorities where there is either a capacity or skillset shortfall, excluding the provision of additional security in the instance of a significant terrorist attack.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April to Question 41493 on Defence: Finance, if he will provide a breakdown of the calculations used to reach the £14.2 billion figure referred to.

£14.2 billion is the difference between the NATO qualifying spend of £66.3 billion in 2024-25 and 2.5% of GDP in financial year 2027-28, which is £80.5 billion based on the OBR's latest growth forecast.

What units are currently held at readiness for UK resilience tasks.

As of the 23 April 2025, Defence holds c. 1,600 personnel at readiness for operations designed to support UK resilience. The tasks they are attributed to are wide ranging, from support in the instance of flooding (provided by the UK Standby Battalions) to the provision of fuel tanker drivers in the instance of a national shortage (Op ESCALIN). Of these 1,600 personnel, 900 are held at extremely high readiness within the UK Standby Battalions for domestic resilience tasks. This responsibility rotates through units and, as of 23 April 2025, is held by personnel from across the Army including the infantry, cavalry, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. We take resilience tasks to mean operations designed to provide assistance to the civil authorities where there is either a capacity or skillset shortfall, excluding the provision of additional security in the instance of a significant terrorist attack.

Whether there has been any delay to the refitting of HMS Trent.

There has been no delay to HMS TRENT's refit. She started a capability refit in October 2024, which completed in December 2024. This was followed by a Capability Insertion Period, which is now complete. HMS Trent is currently undergoing planned force generation and machinery trials alongside in Malta, before proceeding to sea in mid-May.

When the next Chief of the Defence Staff will be announced.

Future appointments will be announced in due course.